EasyJet Holidays will sell through agents

EasyJet Holidays has begun discussions with independent agents and consortia to develop a ‘structured deal’ to sell its holidays through the trade.

A new team is now in place and trade roadshows will take place over the next few months.

CEO Garry Wilson said: "We see a huge opportunity with the trade. We know the value they bring. It would be an opportunity that we would be foolish to ignore.

"What’s important for us is that it’s a simple business model that’s easy to understand and that makes money for both sides.

When launched at the end of this year EasyJet Holidays will look to join ABTA.

Wilson said the company wants to play an active role within the association.

"We don’t want to be the outsider in the industry. There is a place for a modern and relevant holiday company, a new player that can energise the market and industry," said Wilson.

EasyJet Holidays will launch with 100 destinations and around 700 hotels.

Plans have been revised since the collapse of Thomas Cook, with a few hundred hotels added. Wilson said it was inundated with enquiries from hoteliers when the 175-year-old company went into liquidation.